Barbs across the border

Tis a political power play with a plot that has more directions than Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and it is playing out this summer on a Western Canadian tour.

In the midst of the hottest months of the year, the political temperature between British Columbia and Alberta is rising quickly, with the topic of the contentious (well contentious in parts of BC) Northern Gateway pipeline the lightning strike that occasionally sets the political land afire.

The pipeline discussion came to a boil over the last two weeks or so, once BC Premier Christy Clark had finally climbed down off the political fence and offered an opinion on the potential fate of the northern pipeline that would bring bitumen from the Tar Sands to Kitimat and off to Asian markets.

Clark, after a seriously funny mystery session (shhh! don't tell anyone she was here) with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, came out with a declaration that not one drop of Alberta's resource would cross into British Columbia, unless the terms of transportation (and for some (hello Premier Redford) Confederation) were revised to better benefit British Columbia.

Even with such a discussion on the topic, it's perhaps no sure slam dunk that the pipeline makes it to terminal in Kitimat, such is the collective of protest that seems to be standing in the way.

But before we even get to that point, there is the brewing battle between the two resource giants of the Western half of the Federation, British Columbia by way of Premier Clark suggesting that since the province is taking the majority of the risk with the pipeline, then the share of the lucre should be better slanted towards the province.

For good measure Premier Clark provided the Globe an Mail with an Op-Ed piece outlining her thoughts on a National Energy strategy and its impact on B. C.

Alberta for its part and backed by more than a few national observers, says that any attempt to make a grab on oil and gas royalties from the province, makes for a nasty little precedent in Confederation, one which would not be particularly well received in Wildrose country.

Madam Clark, currently the leader of a rather tired and increasingly unpopular government, has latched onto a topic that may give her some political traction for the short term, perhaps enough to cobble together a strategy to win next year's provincial election.

To be seen as playing up to BC's interests is always a game winner in the province, though taking on a fellow premier and risking a change to the dynamic of Confederation's long held provincial rights could pose problems further down the road for any BC Premier.

Still, she seems willing to kick that can down the road for the short term, anxious to change the news cycle from her leadership woes and sliding popularity.

Of course, should Adrian Dix and the NDP take charge of the province next spring, the pipeline debate may prove moot, the strength of the NDP is among those perhaps more inclined to a banning of pipelines, offshore drilling and all of those other environmentally dangerous things.

It's a theme that in Alberta's case isn't helped particularly by the folks at Enbridge, who haven't exactly won the day in public relations as their other pipeline holdings spring leaks and their response to such leaks is described as "keystone kops like", not the image you imagine anyone would want to have with such an environmentally sensitive topic.

The window for moving the pipeline forward may be closing quicker than anyone thinks, leaving Alberta to either seek redress to the Federal Government to declare a national interest stake to move the project forward.

Or to find alternative ways to move its product out of the province, perhaps even bypassing British Columbia, or at least in the laying a pipeline across the northern half of it.

Makes for a fascinating string of dominoes to watch, one toppling into the other with no particular direction yet in place.

The summer season of political theatre continues on into August, here's the preamble to  the show.

Vancouver Sun-- Christy Clark wants a bigger piece of the pipeline pie for B. C
Vancouver Sun-- Clark's approach to pipeline 'smart': former minister
Vancouver Sun-- Oil pipeline looks dead and buried
Vancouver Province-- Has Clark finally struck oil?
Vancouver Province-- Polls show Christy Clark's tough stance over Enbridge pipeline strikes a chord..
Vancouver Province-- Northern Gateway pipelines fuels war or words between B. C. and Alberta
Vancouver Province-- Alberta-B. C. brawl threatens to derail talks on national energy strategy
Vancouver Province-- B. C. government sets conditions, asks for 'fair share' of profits ...
Vancouver Province-- Northern Gateway pipeline a 'very large risk' with 'very small benefit'...
Victoria Times Colonist-- Clark's stance a huge gamble
Vancouver Courier-- Clark tiff with Redford a PR ploy
The Tyee-- Christy Clark's Pipeline Poker Bluff
The Tyee-- Christy Clark's Wrong Way Walkout
The Tyee-- Is Enbridge's fate tied to Gateway? New analysis suggests otherwise.
The Tyee-- Premier Clark derails bid to forge national energy strategy
Calgary Herald-- B. C. Premier Christy Clark's Alberta shakedown
Calgary Herald-- B. C. can't be allowed to hold up pipeline
Calgary Herald-- High stakes rest on pipeline rumble between B. C., Alberta
Calgary Herald-- Only B. C.'s premier wants to talk about Alberta royalties
Calgary Herald-- Clark's "fair share" a red flag in Alberta
Calgary Herald-- Redford so wrong about national energy strategy
Calgary Herald-- Redford says she won't 'blink on royalties with B. C.
Calgary Herald-- B. C. can be compensated in other ways, experts say
Edmonton Journal--  Pipeline War with Alberta escalates as B. C. adds Trans Mountain ...
Edmonton Journal-- Prime Minister Harper trying to stay far away from Northern Gateway dispute
Edmonton Journal-- Gateway is bad news
Edmonton Sun-- 'Energy strategy' needs attitude
Edmonton Sun-- Premiers back Alberta
Edmonton Sun-- Clark's tactic is pure diversion
National Post-- For Canada's sake, Alberta must refuse Christy Clark's pipeline demand
National Post-- Christy Clark's Northern Gateway demands just another extortion attempt
National Post-- Christy Clark's Gateway revenue grab is good for B. C., disastrous for Canada
National Post--  B. C. Premier Christy Clark calls on Ottawa, Alberta to resolve Northern Gateway feud
National Post-- Too much heat, too little light in talk of a "national energy strategy"
Globe and Mail-- Only Harper can end pipeline politicking
Globe and Mail-- Leave Alberta out of B. C.'s pipeline demands: Redford
Globe and Mail--  Proposed pipelines all risk, little reward for B. C.: report
Globe and Mail-- B. C. Natives willing to 'go to the wall' against Enbridge pipeline
CTV-- B. C. Premier Christy Clark derails attempt to forge national energy strategy
CBC-- B. C. seeks 'fair share' in new Gateway pipeline deal
CBC-- B. C., Alberta premiers clash over Gateway pipeline revenue
CBC-- Premier saves some fighting words for Ottawa
CBC-- Pipeline tensions
CBC-- Premier Clark's pipeline walkout provokes B. C. reaction
CBC-- Christy Clark talks pipelines from Halifax
CBC-- Clark says no national energy policy without